U Of Iowa Suspends Record Sharing

The University of Iowa has suspended its practice of sharing federally protected student information with Johnson County law enforcement officials who process gun-permit applications.

The decision comes after The Des Moines Register reported Thursday that the school was sharing data on classroom achievement and student discipline — information that by law can’t be considered by sheriffs when processing permit-to-carry applications.

In addition, that information is normally protected from disclosure by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Mark Braun, chief of staff for university President Sally Mason, said Friday that the school is suspending the information sharing that pertains to students, at least for now. He said the school wants to address concerns raised about whether the privacy waiver that gun-permit applicants sign at the Johnson County sheriff’s office covers FERPA-protected information.